Planned Parenthood: Franks Should Cancel Hearing on 20-Week Abortion Ban Bill In Light of Court Striking Down Similar Law

WASHINGTON – Planned Parenthood Federation of America President Cecile Richards called on Speaker John Boehner and House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice Chairman Trent Franks (R-AZ) to cancel Thursday’s hearing on his bill to ban abortion at 20 weeks nationwide in light of today’s ruling by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals that a similar law in Arizona is unconstitutional.

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Following is a statement by Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America:

“Are Speaker Boehner and Representative Franks unaware of today’s news out of Representative Franks’ home state? There is no other reason that they would be moving forward with a hearing on an unconstitutional bill.

“Voters and the courts agree that decisions about a woman’s pregnancy are not for an Arizona congressman or any other politician to make. These laws are outrageous, they will not stand, and Representative Franks is wasting time and taxpayer money if he moves forward with a hearing on legislation that the courts have already declared unconstitutional.

“Laws banning abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy would take a deeply personal decision out of the hands of a woman and her doctor. While abortions later in pregnancy are uncommon, it is important that a woman and her doctor have every medical option available to protect a woman’s health. In states that have passed laws like this, some women and their families have been put into heartbreaking and tragic situations — needing to end a pregnancy for serious medical reasons, but unable to do so.”